All the fitness freaks are pouring it on in July as they acclimate to the heat, and there is plenty of gear they can utilize on their quest to be healthy and fit.

Outdoors-minded people can take a page from the fitness craze to stay properly hydrated while enjoying their favorite outdoors pursuits, whether it be fishing, hiking or camping in the warm-weather months.

The products below are perfect for the warm summer weather and will help you enjoy your outdoors experience whether you’re emulating the tour de France riders or sittign around a campfire listening to tunes.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission is enlisting assistance from hunters in an effort to slow the spread of chronic wasting disease.

The Game Commission has developed a permit that can be used to hunt antlerless deer, but can be used only within the boundaries of what is known as Disease Management Area 2 – the lone area of the state where chronic wasting disease has been detected in free-ranging deer.

A total of 13,000 permits will be made available with the intention of reducing the deer population by one deer per square mile in DMA 2.

Responding to a need identified by the Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners, the permits seek to focus hunting pressure inside the Disease Management Area (DMA), where deer numbers must be kept in check to slow the potential spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD). At the same time, the permit system enables

The hunting-camp roster is about to become a thing of the past in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to remove the requirement for groups of five or more hunters who are members of a permanent camp to fill out paper rosters in duplicate and post one copy at the camp for at least 30 days following the close of any deer, bear or elk season. The change will be considered for final adoption in September.

Hunting parties for deer, bear and elk would remain unchanged at a maximum of 25 hunters.

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Ellen Ferretti is encouraging Pennsylvanians to share what they like to do outdoors in a 5-minute, online survey that will assist with planning.

DCNR is working with experts across the state to develop the next Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (2014-18), which will help to guide future recreation investments, policies and facilities.

“Five years after the current Pennsylvania Outdoor Recreation Plan was written, recreation interests and trends may be different,” Ferretti said. “We’d liked to know if walking is still Pennsylvanians favorite outdoor activity? Do people still want trails and on-road bike lanes? “

Citizen feedback is an important component to building the goals of the plan. In addition to a scientifically conducted survey earlier this year by Penn State and a survey of recreation providers currently being performed, a general online survey is now open for Pennsylvanians wanting to share their opinions about outdoor recreation.

In allocating antlerless licenses, the commissioners also voted to change the length of the firearms deer season in two WMUs. Hunters in WMU 4A – which contains portions of Huntingdon, Blair, Bedford, Fulton and Franklin counties – and WMU 4C – which contains portions of Dauphin, Lebanon, Schuylkill, Northumberland, Luzerne, Carbon, Lehigh and Berks counties – will have seven days of concurrent hunting for antlered and antlerless deer in the 2014-15 deer firearms season. In this format, only antlered deer may be taken during the first five days of the firearms season. Both antlered and antlerless deer may be taken from the first Saturday to the close of the season.

While the licenses again will be awarded by lottery, the application process will follow an expedited schedule this year.

The drawing for the 2014 elk hunt this year will be held Aug. 16 or 17 at the Elk Country Visitor Center near Winslow Hill in Benezette Township, Elk County. That’s about a month earlier than last year’s drawing. And it means hunters who are looking to enter the drawing for the 2014 hunt need to get their applications in sooner. Hunters may apply when 2014-15 hunting licenses go on sale and all applications are due by July 31.

Elk applications cost $10.70, and only one application may be submitted each license year.

SQUIRRELS, Red, Gray, Black and Fox (Combined): Special season for eligible junior hunters, with or without required license, and mentored youth – Oct. 11-17 (6 daily, 18 in possession limit after first day).

The Pennsylvania Board of Game Commissioners is scheduled to meet April 7 and 8 at the agency’s Harrisburg headquarters.

Among other things, the board is to give final approval to the 2014-15 hunting and trapping seasons and bag limits, as well as establish the number of antlerless deer licenses and elk licenses to be allocated.

Testing of more than 2,500 samples of deer statewide found no deer infected with Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD), the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced today. CWD continues to pose a threat to New York’s wild white-tailed deer as Pennsylvania discovered CWD in both captive white-tailed deer and wild, free-ranging white-tailed deer in 2012. Since 2002, DEC annually has tested hunter-harvested white-tailed deer for CWD. The last confirmed case of CWD in New York was in 2005.

“Under Governor Cuomo’s NY Open for Fishing and Hunting Initiative, New York State hunting relies on a healthy deer population and CWD could devastate the state’s wild deer herd,” said DEC Commissioner Joe Martens. “DEC thanks cooperating hunters, meat processors and taxidermists that contributed samples for testing. Successful CWD surveillance depends on all of us. By testing both sick and healthy-appearing deer, DEC looks to identify the earliest intrusion of CWD into New York.”

Public reporting of sick and abnormal deer throughout the year is also

PETERS MARINE PA. SAFE BOATING COURSE, APRIL 5, 12 — 9 a.m. both days at Peters Marine Service, 1402 Union Blvd., Allentown … Free … basic boating course certificate is required of all operators of personal watercraft (PWCs) or anyone born on or after January 1, 1982 who operates a motorboat of more than 25 horsepower … Successfully passing the test allows participants to apply for PFBC boating safety education certificate for a fee … Pre-registration required. Info: Bobby Michener at 610-433-1606. www.petersmarine.com.

POINT PHILLIPS ROD & GUN CLUB 3-D ARCHERY SHOOT, APRIL 13 — 7 a.m. at club on 1035 Smith Gap Road, Bath … held the second Sunday of every month … Open to public … For info, go online to www.pointphillipsrodandgunclub.org or call Matt at 610-837-0310.

POINT PHILLIPS ROD & GUN CLUB FRIDAY NIGHT BLOCK SHOOT, APRIL 25 — 7 p.m. at club on 1035 Smith Gap Road, Bath … Open to public … For info, go online to www.pointphillipsrodandgunclub.org or call Matt at 610-837-0310.

How to submit items: Local outdoor organizations must submit items online at www.themorningcall.com/outdoorcalendar. All events must be open to the public. Include name of event, date(s), time(s), location, details and phone number (including area code) for additional information. No raffle announcements. Submit items at least three weeks in advance for maximum exposure.